15 Minute Timer

Why fifteen minutes is the useful number

Fifteen minutes is the shortest block that still finishes something and the longest block almost nobody refuses. It divides an hour cleanly into four, so it fits any calendar without arithmetic, and it is short enough that starting costs you nothing.

That is why it turns up everywhere: appointment slots, parking meters, billing units, school breaks, the tidying block, the first sit of a meditation habit. A quarter of an hour is 900 seconds, 0.25 hours, and roughly ten pages of a book.

What fits into 15 minutes

Task	What a quarter-hour gets you
Reading	About 10 pages of non-fiction, or 20 of a novel
Writing	250 to 400 words of a first draft
Walking	Around 1.2 km, or three quarters of a mile
Training	A full bodyweight circuit, or three Tabata blocks
Cleaning	One room's surfaces, or a bathroom to a decent standard
Flashcards	60 to 100 cards at a steady pace
Breathing	90 slow breaths at six a minute

Timers for what you are actually doing

• StudyShort, honest revision blocks
• WorkOne task, one quarter-hour
• WorkoutA full session, no equipment
• MeditationSilent, with a soft ending bell
• CleaningOne room, hard stop
• CookingLoud enough through a wall
• PomodoroA shorter interval that still works
• BreakA break that actually ends

Pick a different length

• 1 Minute TimerOne minute is a plank, a rinse of the kettle, a held breat…
• 5 Minute TimerFive minutes is the standard short break, and long enough …
• 10 Minute TimerTen minutes is the sweet spot for a first meditation and f…
• 20 Minute TimerTwenty minutes is the nap length sleep researchers keep co…
• 25 Minute TimerTwenty-five minutes is one pomodoro, the interval most foc…
• 30 Minute TimerThirty minutes is a half-hour block: one meeting, one work…
• 45 Minute TimerForty-five minutes is a university lecture and a full stre…
• 60 Minute TimerOne hour is the default unit of the working calendar.…

How to use this timer

1. Name the task firstOne task per block, decided before you press start. Deciding while the clock runs is where most of a short block disappears.
2. Start itTap start or press the space bar. Press F for full screen if you want the digits readable across the room.
3. Leave it alonePut the phone somewhere else. If a stray thought arrives, write it down in four words and carry on.
4. Stop at the alarmEven if it is going well. Stopping deliberately is what makes the next block easy to start.

Questions people ask

How do I start the 15 minute timer?

Press the start button, or press the space bar. The timer is already set to 15:00, so there is nothing to type in. If you would rather it began on its own, set a timer for 15 minutes starts as soon as the page loads.

Will the alarm sound if I switch tabs?

Yes. The countdown works from your device clock rather than counting frames, so it stays accurate in a background tab, and the alarm sounds as long as the tab is open and the device is not muted.

How many seconds is 15 minutes?

900 seconds, which is a quarter of an hour or 0.25 in decimal hours.

Can I use it without an internet connection?

After your first visit, yes. The page is cached by your browser, so it opens and runs offline.

Does it cost anything or need an account?

No. Every timer on this site is free, needs no sign-up and stores nothing about you on a server.

Can I change the length?

Yes. Tap any of the chips under the dial, or open one of the ready-made lengths from one minute to two hours.